NEHL Lambton - Race Report by Bill McGuirk

 STUDENTS LEAD THE WAY AT LAMBTON

 

NEWCASTLE and Durham University athletes turned out in force in the third fixture of the Start Fitness North East Harrier League at Lambton. On a typical Autumn day, cold and bright, the region’s visiting competitors were well rewarded as they provided the winners of both the senior men and women’s races which saw huge fields once again turn out especially in the senior contests while numbers were slightly down in the young athletes’ races due to the half-term holidays. However, once again the mudlarks were disappointed as the course, just as it was at Thornley Hall Farm and Druridge Bay, was as dry as sticks. Nevertheless, an exciting day’s sport unfolded as clubs battled for individual and team honours.

 

SENIOR MEN (3 large laps)

 

OVER 300 toed the line from the slow pack and once the initial charge settled down it was Newcastle Uni’s Jamie Swindale who headed the charge away from the start area. By the completion of the first circuit Swindale already had a commanding lead over Morpeth’s Lee Cuthbertson and Louis Gardner (Jesmond Joggers) while Duncan Hughes (Blackhill) and Adrien Bailes were making inroads from the medium pack and fast pack respectively from a 2min36secs and 5:16 handicap. 

Entering the final lap Swindale, a member of the Lincoln Wellington club, was still well clear with Gardner moving into second place with Hughes now up to seventh and Bailes 28^th. Swindale, despite being a third year student on Tyneside, was making his harrier league debut, and his first taste proved to be a winning one as he came home in 36:57 as Hughes crossed the line in second place in 38:02 (actual 35:26) with Gardner completing the one-two-three in 38:38. Bailes meanwhile, worked his way through to finish in eighth place overall in 40:06 to post the quickest actual time on the course of 34:50. Hughes was second fastest with under-20 athlete Liam McDonough (Alnwick) next best after finishing in 13^th place with an actual time of 35:34. Second fastest under-20 was Newcastle University’s Max Hazelhurst (35:58) with Joe Willis (Sunderland) next best with 38:44. 

In the team stakes, Newcastle University were runaway winners of Division One with 66 points followed by Gateshead with 139 and North Shields Poly on 145. In Division Two, Jesmond Joggers won a close contest with Heaton finishing with 87pts against the Eastenders’ 92 with Elswick back in third with 136.

417 Finishers

SENIOR WOMEN (2 large laps)

 

FRESH from helping England finishing second team the previous weekend in the Corsa del Castelli 10k in Trieste, Italy, Durham University’s Megan Stenhouse was a comfortable winner for the second time this season having triumphed in the opening fixture at Thornley Hall Farm. Running from the medium pack this time round, the Rugby and Northampton athlete was in second place behind fellow Durham team-mate Amy Wilson with Amy Styles (Newcastle University) next to appear through the narrow gate on their outward journey for a second time. Stenhouse quickly moved into the lead and it was no surprise when the athletes came back into view 150 yards from the finish she was well clear to cross the line in 28min 08secs (actual time 25:38). 

Morpeth’s Catriona MacDonald, also running from the medium pack, finished in second place in 28:51 (27:21), Potts claiming the bronze medal and first under-20 home in 30:48. 

Overall Stenhouse was quickest on the course followed by MacDonald with Houghton’s Anna Pigford, running from the fast pack and working her way through to finish in sixth place in an actual time of 27:40. Quickest under-20 on the course was Hatti Stead with 29:30 after crossing the line in 47^th position running from the fast pack; Cadence Willis (Newcastle University) was next best recording 30:17 running from the medium pack then came Potts. Morpeth, led home by MacDonald, came out on top in Division One with 30 points, three points clear of Sunderland with Tynedale finishing in third place with 48pts. In Division Two Blaydon, with seventh-placed Letha Whitham, leading them home, finished with 51pts finishing ahead of both Birtley and Crook who both had 58pts with the Gateshead-based outfit claiming second place on countback. In Division Three, Newcastle University, led home by Potts, finished with 19pts, followed by Blyth in second place with 48pts and Chester-le-Street on 73pts.

358 Finishers

 

UNDER-17 MEN (1 small lap and 1 large lap)

 

NOAH WILLIAMSON took full advantage of a 2min 30sec start to claim victory. The North East Project athlete held everyone at bat accept the in-form Alfie Cook (Gateshead) who worked his way through to an excellent second place running from the fast pack. While Williamson led throughout the contest to cross the line in 19:37, Cook cut back the deficit to just 13 seconds to post the fastest overall time of 17:20 to add to the quickest time at both Thornley and Druridge Bay. Isaac Snell (Tyne Bridge) claimed the bronze award with 19:58 while second quickest on the course was Tynedale’s Jamie Lonergan who finished fourth with an actual time of 18:34 with James Omerod (Durham City, sixth) next best with 18:40. Tynedale, led home by Lonergan, won the team event with 31pts with Durham City in second place with 45pts.

24 Finishers

 

UNDER-17 WOMEN (1 small lap and 1 large lap)

 

GATESHEAD’S Emily Collingwood led throughout the contest winning by 27 seconds in 22:05 from Darlington’s Matilda Owens (22:32) and Niamh Phillipson (Birtley (24:21), all three girls running from the slow pack from a 2:30 advantage. Quickest on the course was Morpeth’s Molly Roche with a time of 22:03, two seconds faster than Collingwood with Owens next best with 22:32. Roche led Morpeth to team success with 15pts with Durham City in second place with 36pts.

17 Finishers

 

UNDER-15 BOYS (1 large lap)

 

WALLSEND’S Tom McCann was never headed as he crossed the line in 13:05, 25 seconds clear of Blyth’s James Floyd with Darlington’s Daniel Callaghan seven seconds further in arrears in third place. Fastest on the course was Tynedale’s George Hunter, running from a 1min 15sec penalty to finish in seventh place with an actual time of 12:45. Just two seconds and one place slower came Ernie Bigg (Tyne Bridge) with McCann next best with 13:05. Hunter led Tynedale to team victory with 37pts followed. By Morpeth with 57 and Elswick with 60.

52 Finishers

 

UNDER-15 GIRLS (1 large lap)

 

ELSWICK’S Ayla Bright took full advantage of a 1min 15sec start to claim a popular victory for the West End club. Blight was always at the head of affairs before crossing the line in 14:43 well clear of Gateshead’s Jessica Gould (15:17) with Birtley’s Olivia Murphy next home from the fast pack in 15:35 and an actual time of 14:20. Blight was second quickest on the course with Durham City’s sixth-place Evelyn Proctor third best overall with 15:07. Blight led Elswick to team success with 15pts followed by Durham City with 24pts.

34 Finishers

 

UNDER-13 BOYS (1 large lap)

 

MORPETH’S Luke Thompson took full advantage of a 1min 15sec handicap to ease to victory in 14:54. North Shields Poly’s Owen Cunningham followed Thompson home in 15:13 while Jarrow and Hebburn’s Jacob Hopper was a close-up third in 15:16 to be fastest on the course with an actual time of 14:01. Second quickest, in fourth place, was North Shields Poly’s Ethan Hughes (14:15) followed by Tynedale’s Monty Carter with 14:24. Hopper led Jarrow and Hebburn to team victory with 19pts followed by North Shields Poly with 28 and Tynedale with 29.

58 Finishers

 

UNDER-13 GIRLS (1 large lap)

 

TYNEDALE’S Isabelle Cosstick, making her harrier league seasonal debut, made it a winning one after seeing off her main rivals, Sedgefield duo Phoebe Grieveson and Isla Shuffleton. Cossick crossed the line in 16:14, 11 seconds ahead of Grieveson with Shuffleton just one second further back in third place. Fastest on the course was Martha Carr of Prudhoe Plodders with an actual time of 15:15 after working her way into fourth place from a 1:15 penalty. Gosforth’s Ruby Collins was next best in fifth position with a time of 15:27 with  Celia De Lucas third quickest in seventh place with a time of 15:40. Sedgefield won the team stakes with Jess Davies (13^th) backing up Grieveson and Shuffleton for a total of 18pts , Tynedale were second on 23pts and Prudhoe Plodders third with 35pts.

50 Finishers

 

UNDER-11 BOYS (1 small lap)

 

SUNDERLAND’s Oscar Paxton made it three wins from three starts after his latest victory in 6:58. North Shields Poly’s Edward Duff came home in second place in 7:06 followed closely behind by Logan Garrington (Gateshead) in 7:10.

63 Finishers

 

UNDER-11 GIRLS (1 small lap)

 

NORTH Shields Poly’s Emily Mann claimed her second success of the campaign in the closest finish of the day. Mann crossed the line in 7:32, two seconds clear of Sunderland’s Anna Butler with Millie Carter (Tynedale) just one second further adrift in third position.

38 Finishers

 

MEN OVER-65 (2 large laps)

 

OLYMPIAN Ray Smedley (Ponteland) was awarded victory (35:59) after the first in the age group was disqualified for racing from the wrong pack. Smedley’s Ponteland team-mate, Mick Meaney, running from the medium pack, was deemed second home with an actual time of 34:41 and quickest overall, followed across the line by Durham City’s Clifford Feathersone in 37:28. Second fastest was Crook’s Geoff Hewitson – sixth overall – in 35:33 followed by Smedley in 35:59. Robert Sewell (4th) backed up Smedley and Meaney to win the team race with 7pts, followed by Crook on 23pts and North Shields Poly with 38pts.

20 Finishers

 

***A HUGE thanks to the landowners at Lambton for the use of their land; to the Low Fell, Birtley and Washington clubs for hosting another excellent event; to all the volunteer technical officials and marshalls for being at their posts on a bitterly cold day and to the first aid team without home the SFNEHL would not be the success it is. The next fixture is scheduled for November 23 at Wrekenton, will there be mud, I wouldn’t bet on it!

 

BILL McGUIRK

Photos: BC Photography

NEHL 2025-26 Fixture 3 - Lambton Castle Estate

SFNEHL LAMBTON ESTATE, 25th October 2025

Hi all, here are the details for Lambton this coming Saturday.

Big thanks go to Birtley AC, Low Fell RC, Washington RC for hosting this event.

Find attached images for the course, timing of races with loops/laps, and parking, entrance and exit to the Estate.

PLEASE DO NOT USE ANY OTHER ENTRANCE. USE THE ENTRANCE AT THE PICKTREE LANE END OF BONEMILL LANE NOT THE HARRATON END.

As at the map, the entrance is via the Bonemill Lane gate (what3words, risk.fumes.broad).

As usual car share is encouraged. There will be a parking charge of £5.

Please have cash ready for payment at the entrance to the car park.

As denoted at the parking map, there is a one system in operation to avoid congestion. It's a single lane road from the Bonemill Lane gate to the car parking area.

ANY DOGS MUST BE KEPT ON A LEAD AT ALL TIMES.

Thanks, see you all on Saturday.

NEHL 25-25 Druridge Bay Race Report

 BAY OF PLENTY AT DRURIDGE

 

IT WAS as though club athletes sensed that the second fixture of the Start Fitness North East Harrier League would not be returning to Druridge Bay in the immediate future due to financial restraints for they turned out in their hundreds – 1,278 to be precise, a figure 164 more which turned out at the opening round of fixtures at Thornley Hall with the two senior races the main reason for the swell in numbers. Competitors faced similar conditions as Thornley with fine weather and no sign of mud the order of the day once again making the choice of footwear a difficult decision for the picturesque East Northumberland course admirably marked out by hosts Blyth Running Club.

SENIOR MEN

THREE circuits of the undulating course which ran close to the lake and coast faced the athletes and it was Gateshead pair Sam Punn and Maximus Murray together with Durham University’s Rowan Curtis and Sunderland duo Alex Seed and Craig Gunn, last weekend’s Kielder 10k winner, who led out the huge charge from the slow pack. Two-and-half-minutes later the medium pack faced the starter and it was under-20 athletes’, Alnwick’s Liam McDonough and Morpeth’s Oliver Tomlinson who were quickly at the head of affairs while another two-and-a-half minutes the fast pack set off on their way and it was Gateshead’s Conrad Franks, not surprisingly, who led them out with Birtley’s Adrian Bailes not far behind.

Going into the second lap their was no change in the leading order  with the Gateshead due practically running shoulder-to-shoulder with the Durham student cutting out a lone furrow in third place while medium and fast pack runners continued to weave their way through the congested field. Entering the final circuit, the Gateshead pair were still locked together ahead of Curtis while McDonough had opened up a good gap over Tomlinson and was now in the leading 15. Meanwhile, Bailes, who was third quickest at Thornley, was now ahead of Franks as they moved up into the top 20. 

As the final lap unfolded Punn and Murray were still neck-and-neck and it wasn’t until the final 100 yards that the result was decided when Punn pulled out that little extra to take the win by just three seconds, Punn recording 31:58 and Murray 32:01. Curtis completed the one-two-three in 32:56 while McDonough crossed the line in eighth position in an actual time of 32:09 while Bailes, with a time of 31:12, was quickest on the course after crossing the line in 20^th spot. Franks finished 22^nd with 31:16 while third quickest overall was Jarlath McKenna (Tyne Bridge) who finished in a time of 31:50 to finish in 29^th place. 

With the first two across the line it came as no surprise that Gateshead came out on top in Division One with 56 points; Newcastle University finished second on 122pts with Tyne Bridge third with 141pts. Elswick claimed victory in Division Two with 129pts, just two points clear of Gosforth with Wallsend a close up third on 137pts. Durham University topped Division Three with 108pts followed by Sedgefield (144) and Tynedale (195).

455 Finishers

SENIOR WOMEN

WHILE the senior men’s contest was a close affair that cannot be said for the senior women’s event as Gateshead’s Elisha Tait led throughout the two-lap race. In the early stages Crook’s Bethany Iveson tracked Tait with Newcastle University’s Lily Goodwin leading the slow pack behind. Heading the medium pack from a two minute handicap was Crook’s Sarah Attwood while Houghton’s Anna Pigford was at the forefront of the fast pack from a five-minute penalty ahead of Morpeth’s Holly Lawrence and recently-crowned North East Counties half-marathon champion, Wallsend’s Jenny Berry. 

Entering the second and final circuit, Birmingham-based Tait had a lead of 1 min 45 secs over Iveson with Goodwin a further 20 seconds adrift as Attwood moved through into the top 10 as Lawrence led the ‘fasts’ ahead of Berry and Pigford. 

On the run to the line Tait had extended her advantage to nearly three-and-a-half-minutes to break the tape in 22:58, then came Iveson in second place (26:32) followed by Goodwin with 27:03. Attwood worked her way through to fifth place with an actual time of 25:22 while Lawrence was the pick of the fast pack finishing 38^th in a time of 24:33 for second quickest overall behind Tait with Berry (43^rd) third best with 24:39 followed by Newcastle University’s Imogen Dee (45^th) in 24:41.

In the under-20s, Gateshead’s Ellie Fellows, running from the fast pack, recorded 25:34, second fastest was Lucy Buckle (Chester-le-Street) from the medium pack with 27:04 followed by Tynedale’s Hannah Cutler from the slows with 27:47. 

In the team stakes, Jesmond Joggers finished top in a close contest of Division One totalling 47pts, North Shields Poly finished second with 51pts while Tyne Bridge claimed third place on 53pts. Crook topped Division Two with 22pts, followed by Washington on 65pts and Birtley with 77pts.

411 Finishers

UNDER-17 MEN

At the completion of the small opening lap Wallsend’s Joseph Duthie-Brown and Tynedale’s Morgan Vincent were at the head of affairs with Jacob Moore (Durham City) in close attendance. Midway trough the final circuit Duthie-Brown managed to pull clear to cross the line in 15:38, 41 seconds ahead of Vincent with Moore closing all the time to complete the one-two-three a further three seconds adrift. 

Fastest on the course was Gateshead’s Alfie Cook, recording an actual time of 14:31 after working his way through to sixth place from a 2min 35sec handicap. Joint second quickest (15:06) were Durham City’s William Jardine and Tynedale’s Jamie Lonergan after finishing ninth and 10^th respectively. Jardine led the Durham club to team success with 25pts followed by Morpeth on 37pts and Wallsend on 38pts.

30 Finishers

 

UNDER-17 WOMEN

PRUDHOE’S Phoebe Mulligan was the early leader entering the first small lap but by the completion she was joined by Durham City’s Grace Carter followed by North Shields Poly’s Freya Beckingsale around 50 metres back. 

Midway through the final circuit the orange-vested Carter pulled away from her main rival to cross the line in 18:45, 44 seconds ahead of Mulligan with Beckingsale finishing a clear third in 19:32. Durham City were the only team to close in a three-to-score contest finishing with 22pts thanks to Poppy Gill (5^th) and Grace Walker (16^th) backing up Carter.

20 Finishers

UNDER-15 BOYS

IT WAS a one-two for North Shields Poly with Edward Watson (10:56) getting the verdict over Peter Davies (11:05) with Gosforth’s Jack McManus claiming third place in 11:11. Fastest on the course was Wallsend’s Kasper Pearson recording an actual time of 9:48 after working his way through to finish in sixth position from a 1min 45sec handicap. Joint second quickest were George Hunter (Tynedale) and Blyth’s Alastair Johnston after clocking 10:12. Kallen O’Neil (5^th) led Elswick to team success with 20pts, followed by Tynedale on 31pts with Gosforth in third place place on 39pts, the same number as North Shields Poly, but getting the verdict on countback.

46 Finishers

UNDER-15 GIRLS

BIRTLEY athletes claimed all three podium places as the trio of Olivia Murphy. Poppie Phillipson and Izzy Hall were always at the head of affairs. At the line it was Murphy who broke the tape in 11:27, followed by Phillipson (12:00) and Hall (12:09). Durham City’s Evie Kleiser was the pick of the fast pack, working her way through the field from a 1:45 penalty to cross the line in 16^th position in 12:21, the fourth fastest time on the course behind the Birtley threesome. No doubt about the team winners with minimum points, the blue and gold vests of Birtley with six points followed by Elswick on 28pts and Durham City with 48pts.

43 Finishers

UNDER-13 BOYS

 

MORPETH’S Joseph Fawcett was a clear winner crossing the line in 12:11 as a battle for the minor honours panned out right to the finish. The judges placed Chester-le-Street’s Max Pearson second, North Shield’s Poly’s Noah Penfold third and Oliver Dugdale (Sunderland) fourth with the trio all clocking 12:20 though Penfold got up on the line to claim the bronze award from a 1min 55sec handicap. 

Second quickest on the course was Jarrow and Hebburn’s Jacob Hopper who finished 10^th in 11:16 followed by Darlington’s Rhys Price in 11:24. Fawcett led Morpeth to team victory with 24pts followed by Phoenix Flyers on 34pts and North Shields Poly on 58pts, the Poly relegating Chester-le-Street into fourth place on countback.

63 Finishers

 

UNDER-13 GIRLS

 

NORTH Shields Poly’s Ada Penfold made her under-13 debut a winning one after surging to the front from the off. At the line (11:37) she was well clear of Gosforth sisters Robyn and Charlotte Bain who recorded 13:11 and 13:22 respectively. Penfold’s time was the overall quickest on the course with Elodie Stoker next best with 12:15 after working her through to eighth place from a 1:55 handicap. Gosforth’s Ruby Collins was next best with 12:20. Charlotte Bain led Gosforth to team success – fifth-placed Lucia Kyle backed up the Bain sisters – with 10pts, followed by Elswick with 27pts edging out North Shields Poly who also had 27pts on countback.

66 FINISHERS

 

UNDER-11 BOYS

 

IT WAS a scramble for the medals with just one second separating the leading four finishers. Victory went to Sunderland’s Oscar Paxton – he was also first home at Thornley – in 4min 32secs with Blaydon’s Sebastian Sharpe (Blaydon) given the judges verdict in 4:33, the same time as North Shields Poly pair Edward Duff (3^rd) and Alex Coulson (4^th).

68 Finishers

 

UNDER-11 GIRLS

 

EMILY MANN (North Shields Poly) led the field home, crossing the line in 4:48with Laila Oulaid (Tyne Bridge) finishing in second place followed by Sunderland’s Anna Butler (4:59). An interesting point to note is this age group – boys and girls – had representatives from 27 of the region’s clubs which augurs well for cross-country running here in the North East.

57 Finishers

 

OVER-65 MEN

 

DURHAM City’s Paul Tomaney posted the day’s fastest time (29:58) on his way to victory, crossing the line nearly two minutes clear of former Commonwealth Games representative Ieuen Ellis (Ponteland) who recorded 31:59 with Robert Hewitson, also of Durham City, finishing in third place in 32:15. 

Second quickest on the course, giving away 2min 27secs start, was Ponteland’s Mick Meaney who worked his way through the field to finish in fourth place with an actual time of 30:01. Third quickest was Crook’s Geoff Hewitson (5^th) with a time of 30:10. Ellis led Ponteland to team victory with a total of 12pts, Robert Sewell (6^th) being their third counter. Crook finished in second place with 28pts.

22 Finishers

 

*** A VOTE of thanks to Ralph and his Blyth team of marshalls and car park attendants; all the UKA technical officials; the first aid team who had a number of incidents to deal with and to Start Fitness for their continuing support of the NEHL. Action quickly turns around with the next fixture scheduled for Saturday, October 25 at Lambton Estate hosted by the Birtley, Low Fell and Washington clubs. Will there be mud? I wouldn’t bet on it!

 

BILL McGUIRK

Photos: Keith Willshire

NEHL 2025-26 Fixture 2 - Druridge Bay

DRURIDGE BAY 12/10/2025

Hi all, the 2nd Start Fitness North Eastern Harrier League 2025/26 fixture is this SUNDAY, at DRURIDGE BAY COUNTRY PARK. Start times are as usual:

12.00 Under 11 Boys

12.10 Under 11 Girls

12.20 Under 17 men

12.25 Under 17 women

12.40 Under 15 Boys

12.45 Under 15 Girls

12:55 Under 13 boys

13:00 Under 13 girls

13.20 Senior, U20 & veteran women (O/65 men)

13:50 Senior, U20 & veteran

Please note the slight change in course provided by Blyth RC. The return to the start/finish field will be via the rough track the other side of the fence - similar to the course it was necessary to run a couple of years ago.

TRAVEL & PARKING

Post code is NE61 5BX, access via the A1068. The host club have managed to get the approach road closed via traffic management so there should hopefully be no congestion on the A1068. PARKING FEE IS £2. PLEASE HAVE CASH READY. YOU WILL BE DIRECTED TO PARKING ONCE IN THE COUNTRY PARK AND THERE WILL BE A ONE WAY SYSTEM IN OPERATION.

Many thanks to Ralph Dickinson Blyth Running Club for organising and hosting the fixture. Any volunteers spare to help with marshalling on the day, please do get in touch.

Wishing all an enjoyable and successful event.

Cheers

NEHL Thornley Race Report

 IT’S BACK WITH A BANG – THAT’S THE NEHL

 

CLUB athletes turned out in their droves at the opening fixture of the Start Fitness North East Harrier League at Thornley Hall Farm.

Despite the recent heavy rainfall there was not a sign of any mud, a rarity for the tough County Durham course. Selecting the right footwear for the undulating event was a big decision – spikes, flats or trail shoes – for those 1,200 plus competitors all eager to line up in the 10-race programme. 

However, while there were many happy and smiling faces throughout the day’s proceedings, the final event of the day commenced on a rather sombre mood, for, as the senior men took to the start line for their contest they were informed that one of their own had passed a couple of days earlier while holidaying in Spain. Tyne Bridge Harrier David Young, was a great supporter of the harrier league with his last outing before setting off on holiday was in the GNR. 

Race officials and athletes alike showed their respect by standing for an immaculate minute silence ending with a round of applause before getting underway. The NEHL committee and indeed athletics enthusiasts throughout the region send their condolences to David’s family and all of his friends.

 

SENIOR MEN

THREE circuits of the undulating farmland faced the athletes and by the completion of the first lap North Shields Poly’s Neil Sillence had broken away and was around 100 metres ahead of Morpeth’s Oliver Tomlinson, Liam McDonough (Alnwick) and Newcastle University’s Max Hazlehurst while Ben Cook (NSP) was the pick of the medium pack after giving the leaders a two-and-a-half minutes start. 

All the while Leeds City visitor Linton Taylor was cutting back into his five-minute handicap from the fast pack. Going into the final lap Sillence had extended his advantage over his nearest rivals and by the finish line, he was close to 400 metres ahead (36min 13secs) as Hazlehurst came through strongly to claim second place in 37:32 with McDonough completing the one-two-three in 37:38. Meanwhile, Taylor, winner of Elswick’s River Run earlier in the year, crossed the line in ninth place in 39:51 (actual time 34:51) to post the fastest overall time of the day. Second quickest were fellow fast pack runners Luke Davis (Newcastle University, 10^th) 35:08 and Birtley’s Adrian Bailes (15^th) in 36:04. 

While it’s early days with six fixtures still to come, Morpeth head Division One led home by Andy Lawrence to finish on 83 points, followed by North Shields Poly, 152pts and Birtley with 156pts. In Division Two Wallsend set the pace with Osian Heggarty their leading scorer to finish with, 77 points, two points clear of Elswick with Heaton finishing with 228pts for third place. Sedgefield top Division Three, led home by James Oldfield, finishing with 133 points, Sunderland Strollers finished on 169pts with Blackhill Bounders next on 177pts.

416 finishers

 

Crook AC Senior Men

SENIOR WOMEN

MEGAN STENHOUSE, recently called up by England for an international under-23 10k road race in Italy later this month warmed up by not only winning the contest but also, running from the slow pack, posted the day’s fastest overall time. The Durham University and Rugby and Northampton athlete, was never troubled as she quickly set out her stall by shooting off from the gun to take a commanding lead which saw her come home in 25:36 over three minutes clear of Crook’s recently-crowned NE Counties 10,000m champion, Sarah Attwood (28:54) with Alice Rea (Jesmond Joggers) next home in 30:42. Second quickest on the course was Newcastle University/Copeland’s Ava Leadetter in eighth spot in an actual time of 26:50 while next best was Jessica Eaton(Tyne Bridge) in 16^th place in 27:49.

In the team section, Tyne Bridge came out on top of Division One, led home by Sophie Marr, to finish with 24pts followed by Sunderland on 52pts and Jesmond Joggers on 58pts. In Division Two Birtley led the way home to finish on 29pts with Lilyanna Turner their first counter; Elswick finished second on 32pts with Crook third on 44pts. In Division Three Newcastle University lead the way thanks to Leadbetter’s excellent run, to finish on 37pts; Blyth finished second on 65pts closely followed by Gosforth on 68pts.

342 finishers

 

Birtley Senior Women

UNDER-17 MEN

FROM the offset a trio of athletes pulled away from their rivals and it stayed that way until the closing stages when Tynedale’s Archie Darling managed to ease away to win by six seconds in 22:52. Blyth’s Dexter Heatley (22:58) finished runner-up a similar distance ahead of third-placed Joe Shields of Durham City who recorded 23:04. Quickest on the course, giving !min 30secs start to the leading three, was in-form Gateshead athlete Alfie Cook who managed to work his way through into fifth place at the line after recording an actual time of 21:25. Second fastest was Arthur Di Lullo who finished eighth in 22:23 with Durham City’s William Jardine (10^th) next best with 22:27.

Darling led Tynedale to team victory with 21pts followed by Durham City just point behind with Tyne Bridge finishing in third position with 45pts.

28 finishers

 

UNDER-17 WOMEN

NORTH Shields Poly’s Anna Johnson took an early lead and was never troubled after that despite the efforts of Morpeth’s Molly Roche to keep in touch. The positions remained the same throughout with Johnson crossing the line in 23:15 followed by Roche 14 seconds behind with Emily Collingwood (Gateshead) next home in 24:09. Johnson led the Poly to team success with 18pts followed by Durham City with 26pts with Morpeth finishing in third spot on 34pts.

20 finishers

 

 UNDER-15 BOYS

THE leading trio took full advantage of their 1min 20secs start over the fast pack and it was the Tynedale club who were celebrating their second success of the day when George Hunter came home in pole position, posting a time of 12:10. Morpeth’s Mason Gaylor finished runner-up 12 seconds adrift with Blyth’s Alistair Johnston a further seven seconds back in third place. Fastest on course was Wallsend’s Kasper Pearson who worked his way through to finish in 11^th place in an actual time of 11:57. Hunter was second best on the day with Gaylor third quickest. Hunter also led Tynedale to team victory with 23pts followed closely behind by Elswick 25pts with Morpeth third on 28pts.

43 finishers.

 

UNDER-15 GIRLS

DURHAM City’s Evie Klieser proved the best on the day crossing the line in 14:33, 13 seconds clear of Houghton’s Kiera Wilson with Gosforth’s Nckija Poulatova a further 20 seconds back in bronze medal position. The leading trio were the outright fastest on the day. In the team stakes Durham City came out on top with 16pts followed by Elswick with 23pts and Gosforth with 27pts.

36 finishers

 

UNDER-13 BOYS

AFTER the initial early charge which saw a seven-strong group at the head of affairs after the completion of the opening field, it was Jarrow and Hebburn’s Jacob Hopper who was to prove successful, crossing the line in 13:43, 14 seconds clear of Heaton’s Henry Hardy and Daniel Bell (Tynedale) who both recorded 13:47 respectively with Hardy getting the judges verdict for second place. Fastest on the course was North Shields Poly’s Ethan Hughes who worked his way through from a 1:20 handicap to finish in 15^th position to end up with an actual time of 13:33. Hopper was next best (13:43) then came Darlington’s Rhys Price (13:50).

Bell led Tynedale to team victory with 29pts followed by North Shields Poly with 33pts then came J&H with 43pts.

56 finishers

 

UNDER-13 GIRLS

GOSFORTH’S Ruby Collins proved the stronger in the closing stages as she came home by just four seconds (15:12) ahead of Celia De Lucas (Phoenix Flyers) with Elodie Stoker (Elswick) completing the one-two-three in 15:29. Quickest on the course was Martha Carr (Prudhoe Plodders) who defied a penalty of 1:20 to work her way through the field to finish in seventh place with an actual time of 14:48. Second fastest, just two seconds adrift of Carr, was North Shields Poly’s Elsa Hawkins (14:50) with the race winner next best with 15:12. Fourth-placed Elodie Soward led the Poly to another team success with 22pts, followed by Sedgefield on 47pts, then came Elswick with 52pts. It was pleasing to see 11 clubs closed in in this age group.

51 finishers

 

UNDER-11 BOYS

THIS age group saw many on the start line experiencing cross-country for the very first time so the course builders had lain out a relatively straightforward test which proved fine for Sunderland’s Oscar Paxton as he came home first in a time of 5:24, four seconds clear of North Shields Poly’s Edward Duff with Logan Garrington (Gateshead) completing the medal winners in 5:38.

55 finishers

 

UNDER-11 GIRLS

IT WAS another success for the strong North Shields Poly club with victory going to Emily Mann in 5:54. Sunderland’s Anna Butler finished runner-up in 6:03 with Emily Hirst (Gateshead) next across the line in 6:12.

48 finishers

 

MALE O-65

CROOK’s Geoff Hewitson took victory in fine style crossing the line in 35:10, 35 seconds clear of Durham City’s Paul Tomaney (35:45). Ponteland’s former Olympian, Ray Smedley finished in third place in 36:07. Fastest on the course was Smedley’s team-mate Robert Sewell, who worked his way through from a 2:20 handicap to finish in fourth spot in an actual time of 35:38. Hewitson was second quickest with Tomaney third. Smedley led Ponteland to team victory – Wales Commonwealth Game representative Iuean Ellis was third counter - with 12pts followed by Crook on 27pts.

17 finishers

 

**A FINE opening fixture would not have been possible without the support of numerous people and groups so it goes without saying the NEHL are indebted firstly to Jon Taylor and his helpers for the use of his farmland – over £2,000 was collected on car park duties which Jon mainly passes on to a charity of his choice – to Stewy Bell and his Blackhill Bounders team  for setting up, taking down the course and being on marshalling duties throughout the day; to all the technical officials for being at their post covering the long programme; to the first aid team, a very important part of the day’s proceedings, and finally to Start Fitness for their continuing support which contributes in making the NEHL one of the most successful leagues in the country if not the overall best.

The league now moves onto Druridge Bay for the next fixture which is on SUNDAY, October 12 with the usual start time. Let’s see another huge turnout for the Blyth Runniing Club’s-hosted event.

 

BILL McGUIRK.

 

 

 

NEHL 2025-26 - Event 1 - Thornley Hall Farm - 27TH SEPTEMBER 2025

 THORNLEY HALL FARM 27TH SEPTEMBER 2025

A big 'thank you to John Taylor, owner of Thornley Hall Farm and also Blackhill Bounders, host club for this seasons opening fixture. We could do with a few volunteers to ensure we have enough marshals for the fixture. Just give names in comments. Much appreciated.

DIRECTIONS

Post code: DH6 3LY

Irrespective of direction of travel, the Farm is accessed from the A181. 

Please do not right turn across the A181 if travelling from the West. Go to the roundabout approx half a mile past the farm and then come back to turn left into the farm. On entry to the farm you will be directed to the parking area. 

What3Words Parking entrance: ///necklaces.tens.arch

Parking cost is £3 CASH ONLY. PLEASE HAVE YOUR COINS READY.

Please see below course map. Note tent area at the top of the course. The large loop (marked in red) due to livestock in the far field will be modified and take a loop around the field to the left (lighter coloured field).

Registration / number collection will be in the bar area.

Start Times:

12.00 Under 11 Boys
12.10 Under 11 Girls
12.20 Under 17 men
12.25 Under 17 women
12.40 Under 15 Boys
12.45 Under 15 Girls
12:55 Under 13 boys
13:00 Under 13 girls
13.20 Under 20, Senior & veteran women
13:50 Under 20, Senior & veteran men